Scottish Executive

Language Training

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a public commitment to comply fully with its obligations under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Peter Peacock: Within the scope of its powers, the Scottish Executive expects to give effect to the international obligations of the United Kingdom.

Children with Disabilities

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5990 by Peter Peacock on 2 March 2004, why advocacy services funded to date are only for children with learning disabilities and what plans it has to cover all children with additional support needs through the fund.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is currently funding two advocacy projects for children with learning disabilities. These projects were selected following standard evaluation procedures of bids received under the Children, Young People and Families Unified Voluntary Sector Fund.

  We will make available £250,000 in 2005-06 for advocacy services for parents of all children with additional support needs, and for young people with such needs.

Credit Unions

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether credit unions will be included in the Debt Arrangement Scheme.

Hugh Henry: Credit unions can act either as money advisers or payment distributors for the purpose of the scheme if they meet the criteria and are approved. The Executive is aware that some credit unions are already actively involved in debt advice or have payment distribution services. In recognition of this, and in response to representations made by credit unions, the regulations setting out the detail of the scheme were specifically framed in such a way as to ensure that credit unions were not excluded.

Digital Technology

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure 100% broadband coverage across Scotland, in the light of the decision to award BT a contract to achieve that level of coverage in Northern Ireland by the end of 2005.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S2W-5626 on 3 February 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Education

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there are for teachers of (a) mathematics, (b) physics, (c) technology and design, (d) modern languages and (e) English, broken down by local authority area.

Peter Peacock: At September 2003 the teacher vacancies survey returned by local authorities showed:

  Full-Time Equivalents Teacher Vacancies in Schools

  

 Local Authority
 Mathematics
 Physics
 Technological 
  Education
 Modern 
  Languages
 English


 Aberdeen City
 4
 2.6
 3.2
 0.7
 1.4


 Aberdeenshire*







 Angus
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Argyll and Bute
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Clackmannanshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Dundee City
 4
 0
 4
 1
 4


 East Ayrshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 East Dunbartonshire
 3
 1
 0
 1
 2


 East Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 East Renfrewshire
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Edinburgh City
 3
 0.4
 0.6
 2
 1


 Eilean Siar
 0.3
 0.3
 0
 0
 0.4


 Falkirk
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Fife
 1
 0
 0
 0
 3


 Glasgow City
 3
 3
 1
 7
 8


 Highland
 1.21
 0
 2.15
 1
 0


 Inverclyde
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Midlothian
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Moray
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0


 North Ayrshire
 0
 0
 1
 0
 2


 North Lanarkshire
 5.5
 2
 1
 6.5
 6.5


 Orkney
 1
 0
 2
 0
 1


 Perth and Kinross
 3.4
 1.4
 0.5
 2
 1.67


 Renfrewshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Scottish Borders
 1
 2
 0
 1
 2


 Shetland*







 South Ayrshire
 1
 1
 0
 0
 3


 South Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 1
 1.4
 0.9


 Stirling
 1
 0
 0
 1
 2


 West Dunbartonshire
 1
 0
 0
 2
 0


 West Lothian
 2
 0
 0
 0
 2


 Total
 40.41
 14.7
 17.45
 29.6
 42.87



  Note:

  *No return.

Education

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are of Devolved School Management on the potential for education authorities to reallocate teachers to schools with significant shortages in specified subjects.

Peter Peacock: Devolved School Management provides head teachers and schools with the autonomy and flexibility to make the most effective use of resources, which best suit local circumstances. How they would use this in relation to staffing issues would be a matter for headteachers and education authorities to determine.

Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the creation of an Energy Intermediary Technology Institute (ITI Energy) in Aberdeen will have on the development of space heating technologies that do not require an electricity input.

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the creation of an Energy Intermediary Technology Institute (ITI Energy) in Aberdeen will have on the development of combined heating and power technologies for the domestic, industrial, commercial and public sectors.

Lewis Macdonald: The nature of the technologies and areas of research for ITI Energy will be an operational matter for the institute itself.

Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government regarding the possible upgrading of existing generation plant to increase the contribution of the use of combined heating and power (CHP) to the overall energy portfolio.

Lewis Macdonald: The UK Energy White Paper, Our Energy Future – creating a low carbon economy , maintained the UK Government’s strong commitment to further increase the amount of CHP, including a commitment to increase CHP capacity in the UK to 10,000MW by 2010. The Scottish Executive contributed to the development of the white paper and remains closely involved in its implementation, including the targets for CHP. Scotland is already playing a full part in achieving its share of the UK target and to date has installed capacity of 743MW. The Scottish Executive will continue to encourage further opportunities to advance CHP.

Environment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the existence of partnerships between local authorities and nappy-laundering services to promote the use of "real" nappies.

Ross Finnie: We are aware of two nappy laundering services in Scotland. The Scottish Nappy Company works with East Renfrewshire Council and Edinburgh City Council and Cotton Bottoms offer a nappy laundering service in north-east Scotland. In addition, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen Forward work with the Hippins Network which offers a nappy lending service allowing parents to try different styles before buying. They also operate a scheme under which parents who use real nappies can claim up to £30 towards the cost of kitting-out their child.

  More generally, thirteen local authorities at present support work carried out by the Scottish Nappy Network to promote real nappies in Scotland. We are also aware of community sector projects, such as one run by Lothian and Edinburgh Environmental Partnership.

  We have recently provided resources to the Waste and Resources Action Programme for work on waste minimisation, including work on real nappies.

Environment

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13633 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 12 March 2001, whether any of its departments or agencies has responsibility for the environmental monitoring of activity in relation to the test firing of depleted uranium shells at Dundrennan.

Ross Finnie: Responsibility for monitoring of general levels of radioactivity in the environment in Scotland rests with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in conjunction with the Food Standards Agency. Results are published annually in the joint UK report entitled Radioactivity in Food and the Environment. The report can be accessed at SEPA’s website:

  http://www.sepa.org.uk/publications/rife/index.htm.

  Detailed monitoring in respect of the test firing of depleted uranium at Dundrennan has been carried out and published by the Ministry of Defence, mirroring similar arrangements in respect of discharges made by nuclear site operators in Scotland.

Gaelic

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to expand Gaelic as a subject taught to learners in secondary schools.

  The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  A dh’fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba dè na planaichean a tha aca gus Gàidhlig a leudachadh mar chuspair a tha ga theagasg do luchd-ionnsachaidh anns an àrdsgoil.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive welcomes the increase of students taking Gaelic as a subject for learners at secondary school and has put in place a number of measures to ensure that this continues. Although this is a matter for local authorities the Executive’s plans to expand Gaelic for learners at secondary school includes, continuing support through the Gaelic Specific Grant Scheme and the Languages Fund, prioritising the need for Gaelic teachers, maintaining support for Gaelic school resources and monitoring progress on Gaelic in local authority reporting in the Schools Improvement Framework.

  The Executive has provided the following translation. 

  Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ cur fàilte air an àrdachadh ann an sgoilearan a’ dèanamh Gàidhlig mar chuspair do luchd-ionnsachaidh aig ìre na h-àrdsgoile agus tha e air grunn cheuman a stèidheachadh gus dèanamh cinnteach gun cùm seo a’ dol. Ged a tha seo an urra ri ùghdarrasan ionadail tha planaichean an Riaghaltais airson leudachadh air Gàidhlig do luchd-ionnsachaidh san àrdsgoil a’ gabhail a-steach, cumail taic a’ dol tron Sgeama Thabhartasan Sònraichte airson Gàidhlig agus Maoineachadh Cànain, mòr-chudrom air an fheum air tidsearan Gàidhlig, cumail suas taic do ghoireasan sgoile sa Ghàidhlig agus cumail sùil air adhartas le Gàidhlig ann an cunntasan nan ùghdarras ionadail san Fhrèam airson Leasachadh Sgoiltean.

Health

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to train midwives in order that people from all parts of Scotland can contribute to the new stem-cell bank operated by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.

Malcolm Chisholm: Plans for the training of midwives to support the future operation of the Scottish National Cord Cell Bank are being developed by the Scottish Blood Transfusion Service.

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7015 by Malcolm Chisholm on 30 March 2004, how many people were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: The table gives estimates of the number of people seen by GPs in respect of hyperactivity disorders, based on returns made by sample GP practices, whose population is broadly nationally representative in age, sex, deprivation category and rural/urban mix.

  

 Year Ended 31 March
 Number of People 
  Seen


 1999
 1,750


 2000
 1,800


 2001
 1,800


 2002
 1,700


 2003
 1,850

Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7014 by Malcolm Chisholm on 30 March 2004, whether the Chief Scientist Office has received any proposals for research into attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder and drugs misuse and, if so, what the reasons are for the research not being supported.

Malcolm Chisholm: In the recent past, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) has received two research proposals on attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD). The first proposal, relating to the acute and chronic effects of the psychostimulent drug methylphenidate (Ritalin) in girls with ADHD, was rejected by the Biomedical and Therapeutic Research Committee in June 2003 as it did not meet the required quality threshold for funding.

  The second proposal has now been allocated support through CSO’s NHS Mental Health Programme Support Grant funding. The proposed research will investigate whether chronic treatment with methylphenidate in boys with ADHD leads to tolerance or sensitisation, two processes associated with the development of substance misuse problems. Work on this project will commence in the near future.

Health

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to examine the long-term sustainability of health services in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The White Paper, Partnership for Care , discussed the importance of partnership, integration and redesign in the health service in Scotland. It emphasised the need for sustainable specialist services allied to a wider range of services provided in community settings. In order to develop these themes, I have appointed an expert group, chaired by Professor David Kerr, to develop a national framework for service change in NHS Scotland, the members are as follows:

  Professor David Kerr, Rhodes Professor of Cancer Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology at Oxford University;

  Professor Graham Teasdale, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow;

  Dr Charles Swainson, Medical Director, NHS Lothian;

  James Kennedy, Chair of the Scottish Partnership Forum;

  Peter Bates, Chair, NHS Tayside

  Roger Gibbins, Chief Executive, NHS Highland;

  Professor Nora Kearney, Professor of Cancer Care, University of Stirling;

  Dr Lesley Holdsworth, Clinical Co-ordinator, Forth Valley Health Board;

  Professor Jillian Morrison, Professor of General Practice, Glasgow University;

  Professor Gillian Needham, Medical Dean, North East Scotland;

  Irene Sweeney, Chairperson, Scottish Pensioners’ Forum;

  Jae Ferguson, Chair, Mid-Argyll Maternity Service Users Forum;

  Alexis Jay, Director of Social Work, West Dunbartonshire Council, and

  Lesley Summerhill, Director of Nursing, NHS Tayside.

  The work will provide a national context for the planning of health services and will run in tandem with work already underway at local levels. Professor Kerr will report to me within a year with recommendations for the future development of the NHS in Scotland. I have written today to the Chair of the Health Committee with details of the terms of reference for the exercise and copies have also been lodged with the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Language Training

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take account of the report and recommendations of the Council of Europe in respect of the United Kingdom’s application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages during the final drafting of its Gaelic Language Bill.

Peter Peacock: In the final drafting of the Gaelic Language Bill, the Scottish Executive will take account of the wide range of discussions and recommendations. This will include the responses to public consultation, the discussions held between ministers and Gaelic interest groups, the advice of Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the report and recommendations of the Committee of Experts on the Council of Europe’s Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Language Training

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific actions it is taking to ensure that it complies "as a matter of priority", as requested by the Council of Europe, with the recommendations made by the council in respect of the United Kingdom’s application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Peter Peacock: The recommendations from the Council of Europe report that fall to the Scottish Executive relate to the availability of Gaelic education; the monitoring and reporting on Gaelic education; the provision of guidance to those working in Gaelic education and the administration of Gaelic, and the use of Scots in public life.

  The Council of Europe’s committee of experts collected evidence as long ago as January 2003. The Executive is addressing its recommendations through its support for Gaelic education, the exercise of the powers available to ministers under the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act etc. 2000, the activity of Her Majesty’s Inspector of Education and its work to take forward its commitments to the two partnership agreements of a Gaelic language act and a languages strategy to guide the development of Scotland’s languages.

Language Training

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the statement in the report by the Council of Europe on the United Kingdom’s application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages that "there appears to be less emphasis on minority language policy on the part of the Scottish Executive" compared with the position in Wales.

Peter Peacock: The Council of Europe report states "There appears to be less emphasis on minority language policy on the part of the Scottish Executive, even though there is political will to protect the Gaelic language, as demonstrated, for example, by the Scottish Minister responsible for Gaelic and measures taken by the Scottish Parliament".

  This statement is not surprising given the relative position of Welsh in Wales and Gaelic in Scotland. In the 2001 Census, 20.5% of the Welsh population were found to speak Welsh and 28% to understand it. The comparative figures for Gaelic in Scotland were 1.2% speaking Gaelic and 1.9% understanding Gaelic.

  Although this difference would account for the different emphasis on minority language policy in Scotland and Wales, the Scottish Executive is committed to protecting the Gaelic language in Scotland.

Language Training

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate why it does not fully comply with its obligations under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and publish the results of such an investigation.

Peter Peacock: The Executive is already addressing the issues for which it is responsible in the light of the Council of Europe’s investigation.

Local Government in Scotland Act 2003

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will issue guidance under the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003.

Mr Andy Kerr: I am pleased to announce that we have today published guidance on best value, community planning and the power to advance well-being, three core elements of the Local Government in Scotland Act. This followed an extensive consultation. The guidance can be found on the Executive’s web site (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/publications/recent.aspx) and is being sent out to local authorities and other key interests, including those with duties under the act. Copies have been placed in the Parliament’s reference centre (Bib. numbers: 32428 - Community Planning & Advice Notes ; 32429 - Power to Advance Wellbeing ; and 32430 - Duty to Secure Best Value ).

NHS Funding

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it next intends to meet NHS Forth Valley to discuss how it will deal with financial pressures in 2004-05.

Malcolm Chisholm: I met with the Chair and Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley on 2 April and was briefed on their financial position.

  "Staff in the Performance Management and Accounting Division of The Scottish Executive Health Department meet regularly with all NHS Boards to discuss their financial position. The next meeting with NHS Forth Valley is expected to take place during May 2004. The agenda will focus on the 2004-05 financial position, including financial pressures."

Police

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address overcrowding in residential accommodation at the Scottish Police College.

Cathy Jamieson: Strong demand for training at the college means that probationers may be required to share bedroom accommodation. The college is presently undertaking an accommodation options review to examine how the increased demand may be met.

Police

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationers and other officers are required to share a room at the Scottish Police College with (a) one and (b) more than one other person and when the college will be in a position not to have to require anyone to share a room.

Cathy Jamieson: The number of probationer students required to share bedroom accommodation varies according to demand at any given time. The college has 434 bedrooms available for students, of which 232 are capable of double occupancy. Over the past three years, the average bedroom occupancy was 122%, with a maximum occupancy level of 155%. Only probationer students have had to share accommodation, and no students are required to share with more than one other person. The college is presently undertaking an accommodation options review.

Police

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the classroom space available at the Scottish Police College.

Cathy Jamieson: The college has responded to increasing student numbers in recent years by rationalising existing accommodation and by hiring portable accommodation units and will continue to do so.

Rail Network

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional measures it will introduce to further support and develop the rail network in the Highlands and Islands in light of the recent report by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The Case for Rail in the Highlands and Islands .

Nicol Stephen: The Executive strongly welcomes this report, and will continue to be supportive of new rail projects developed by Highland Council and its transport partners.

Recycling

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered thermal depolymerisation as an option for the recycling or disposal of organic waste.

Ross Finnie: In assessing bids from local authorities to the Strategic Waste Fund, the Executive takes account of the assessment of the best practicable environmental option in the relevant area waste plan and emerging information on new technologies.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the quadrupling of the amount of aggregate to be quarried from the site of the proposed wind farm at Whitelee Forest makes the addendum to Scottish Power’s proposal to build a 322 megawatt wind farm at Whitelee Forest a material change to the original application.

Lewis Macdonald: We have considered this in consultation with the three planning authorities and concluded that as the revised proposal constitutes a significant change to the original application, the applicant should be required to prepare an addendum to the environmental statement and that these changes should be subject to fresh consultation.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the substantive objections submitted by the Sandford and Upper Avondale Community Council, among others, in March 2002 to the application under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for the construction of a 322 megawatt wind farm at Whitelee Forest.

Lewis Macdonald: All representations received in regard to the proposal will be fully considered when ministers determine the application. After the application is determined, the main reasons and considerations on which the decision was based will be sent to all parties who made representations.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what grants are available for householders wishing to purchase rooftop wind turbines.

Lewis Macdonald: Assistance is available under our Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative. The grant is for 30% of the capital costs of the system up to £4,000.

Renewable Energy

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of electricity is produced through hydro schemes.

Lewis Macdonald: In 2002, Scottish hydro stations and pumped storage schemes produced 5,000 GigaWatt hours, accounting for 10.3% of total Scottish electricity output.

Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order 2004

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications will be for CO 2 emissions as a result of the modifications to the Renewables Obligation Scotland under the Renewables Obligations (Scotland) Order 2004.

Lewis Macdonald: The Renewables Obligation Scotland (ROS) is our chief mechanism to promote renewable energy and thus help to reduce CO 2 emissions. The recent amending order extended the deadline for stations wishing to co-fire fossil fuels with biomass. An independent study published during the consultation process projected additional carbon savings of 8 million tonnes across Great Britain by 2016 arising from the changes now made.

Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order 2004

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications will be for CO 2  emissions if generators do not take advantage of the extended timescale detailed in the Renewables Obligations (Scotland) Order 2004 for full conversion to biomass burning.

Lewis Macdonald: The independent study published alongside our consultation on amendments to the Renewables Obligation Scotland (ROS) projected that generators will take advantage of the extended timescale now available, leading to additional CO 2  savings of 8 million tonnes by 2016. If however biomass burn does not increase as a consequence of these changes to the legislation, then emissions savings arising from the ROS will remain unchanged.

Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order 2004

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications will be for the electricity supply if generators do not take advantage of the extended timescale detailed in the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order 2004 for full conversion to biomass burning.

Lewis Macdonald: We believe that the changes that we have made to the Renewables Obligation Scotland (ROS) can enhance the security of our electricity supply by extending the operating span of existing fossil fuelled plant. However, there are many other factors external to the ROS which will have an influence on Scotland’s future electricity supply.

Roads

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-885 by Nicol Stephen on 20 June 2003, what changes have been made, or are under consideration, to the national agreed standards for reinstatement of roads by utility companies.

Nicol Stephen: A revised Code of Practice Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Roads which sets out revised requirements on materials, workmanship and the standard of reinstatement came into force on 1 October 2003.

  This Code of Practice was prepared in conjunction with the Road Authorities and Utilities Committee (Scotland) (RAUC(S)) and was subject to consultation with interested organisations and individuals.

  Additionally, the Executive has recently completed a consultation exercise on the regulation of utility company roadworks. The responses are currently being analysed.

Roads

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-885 by Nicol Stephen on 20 June 2003, how many fines have been levied on utility companies under section 130 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 in each year since its inception.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive is not aware of any such fines being levied.

Roads

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-885 by Nicol Stephen on 20 June 2003, what performance indicators are publicly available with regard to the digging up, and reinstatement, of roads by utility companies.

Nicol Stephen: Performance indicators are contained in the Code of Practice Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Roads and the Code of Practice for Inspections . Detailed figures are a matter for the relevant roads authority.

Sexual Offenders

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are serving a prison sentence for sexual offences.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Provisional figures show that on 30 June 2003 there were 387 people serving sentences where the main crime recorded was a crime of indecency.

Social Inclusion

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) parents and their children; what issues it has identified in respect of such needs, and how they are being addressed.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive is actively engaged with Scotland’s LGBT communities. We are funding the development of consultation mechanisms with the communities and through these we are developing our understanding of the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and their children. We will continue to work with the communities to address any issues which emerge.

Suicide

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the possibility of setting up an emergency contact number for those contemplating suicide under the current 999 system.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Ambulance Service currently operates a system which specifically provides support for people threatening suicide. The service prioritises all calls it receives via the 999 system to ensure that a person’s clinical condition receives the most appropriate response.

  The system used - Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System (AMPDS) - is the primary system used by ambulance services worldwide to prioritise calls. AMPDS has 33 Chief Complaint categories, one of which is Psychiatric/Abnormal Behaviour/Suicide Attempt; this is the protocol applied to a caller contemplating suicide. Whilst an emergency ambulance is dispatched, the Ambulance Service Call Taker remains on the line and provides support and encouragement to the caller or their carer. This ensures that appropriate response and care starts from the moment the 999 call is answered in the Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre (EMDC) and continues until the ambulance arrives on scene and takes over responsibility for the person’s care.

Teacher Training

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teacher training places are allocated to each higher education institute for (a) mathematics, (b) physics, (c) technology and design, (d) modern languages and (e) English.

Mr Jim Wallace: Allocations to individual Higher Education Institutions are a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC).

  I refer to the answer I gave to S2W-7293 on 27 April 2004. Other than in BEd Music, BEd Technology and BEd Physical Education courses, SHEFC does not allocate places to specific subjects.

  SHEFC allocates 171.8 FTE student places to BEd Technology Courses, distributed as follows:

  University of Edinburgh – 51 places.

  University of Glasgow – 120.8 places.

Teacher Training

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for allocating teacher training places in particular subjects to higher education institutes and what weight is given to each such criterion.

Mr Jim Wallace: The criteria for the allocation of funded places between institutions are a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC). In allocating places, SHEFC is expected to take account of advice from the Scottish Executive Education Department on overall expected workforce requirements.

Teacher Training

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether vacancy rates in local schools are part of the criteria for the allocation of teacher training places to higher education institutions and, if so, what weight is given to this consideration.

Peter Peacock: A survey of local authorities’ teacher vacancies informs the Scottish Executive’s annual teacher workforce planning exercise in categorising secondary subjects as to the level of priority for intake to higher education institutions. This is part of advice offered to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council who are responsible for setting target intakes to initial teacher education.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward proposals to comply with the EU requirement to transpose into Scots law the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive by August 2004.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive consulted in November 2003 on a proposed model for transposition, issuing a paper jointly with the UK Government, the Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland administration. We expect to bring forward a further consultation on draft regulations in the summer.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to lay regulations before the Parliament to implement the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive before the summer recess of 2004.

Ross Finnie: The Executive expects to consult, in partnership with the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly, on draft regulations and guidance in the summer, so will not be able to lay any regulations before the summer recess of 2004. As the directive addresses a mix of devolved and reserved matters, we are considering whether implementation will be best achieved by making separate regulations for the Scottish devolved aspects or through UK-wide regulations made by the UK Government.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in consulting on the proposals to be brought forward in order to comply with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Ross Finnie: The second stage of a three-phase consultation exercise with stakeholders closed on 1 March 2004. Consultation was undertaken jointly by the Scottish Executive, the UK Government, the Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland administration. The response is currently being assessed and will inform the proposals to be consulted on in the third phase. The Scottish Executive is discussing the developing proposals with Scottish stakeholders through a range of meetings.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications will be of implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive for business sectors affected by the directive.

Ross Finnie: The directive seeks to reduce the environmental impact of disposing of waste electrical and electronic equipment by encouraging separate collection, setting treatment requirements and requiring high levels of recycling. Manufacturers and importers of goods within the scope of the directive will be made financially responsible for ensuring the collection, reuse, recovery and recycling of waste equipment. The recycling and recovery targets and higher treatment standards are a business opportunity for the waste management industry.